DEAR SIR: For my own gratification, as well as those
who are taking great interest in the important question, with regard to the
using of the slaves of the Confederacy as an assisting element to us in
defending our homes, firesides, and country from those who would destroy us, I
would respectfully say that this morning I caused the hired male slaves at this
hospital to be convened, and after asking them the deliberate question, if they
would be willing to take up arms to protect their masters' families, homes, and
their own from an attacking foe, sixty out of seventy-two responded they would
volunteer to go to the trenches and fight the enemy to the bitter end.